WEEDS OF MAINE. 



267 



it is said, will not eat it nor the grass it grows with. The woody 

 roots creep extensively, and are vei-y tenacious of life, thus making 

 it very difficult to eradicate. For exterminating 

 it, J. J. Thomas recommends repeated plowing 

 and harrowing. Todd says : " Never let a plant 

 go to seed. Mow it in pastures and meadows, 

 and plant Indian corn one year, and sow buck- 

 wheat the next. This will destroy it." 



77. LouSEWORT — Wood BEXoNr — Pedicularis canadensis. Peren- 

 nial. Stem one foot high, clustered around the root. Leaves three 

 to six inches long, mo?tly radical. Flowers greenish yellow and 

 purplish, arranged in a short, dense spike^ Pods fiat, somewhat 

 Bword-shaped. 



This plant we noticed very common in neglected 

 sandy fields and pastures in Waterville, and it is 

 probably found in similar situations throughout 

 the State. The plant may be readily recognized 

 by its dark reddish brown or purple color, espe- 

 cially when young. The blossoms appear from 

 May to July. Easily eradicated by thorough cul- 

 tivation. 



Toad Flax. 



Order 22. MINTS — Labiate. Mostly 7ier6s with square stems, 

 and two-lipped flowers (corollas). It numbers about 2350 species, 

 chiefly natives of the temperate regions. "Not one species is 

 poisonous, or even suspicious. Many are cultivated for ornament; 

 and a large number are well known for their medicinal properties, 

 as the Horsemint, Peppermint, Pennyt^oyal, Lavender, Sage, Gat- 

 mint, and Horeliound. 



78. Water Horehound — Bugle-weed — Lycopus Virginicus. Perennial. Stem six to 

 eighteen inches high, obtusely four angled, sides concave. Leaves narrowly oblong, 

 toothed and short stalked. Flowers minute, in small capitate clusters. 



An extremely bitter plant, common in moist shady places, and 

 in ditches. A variety of Lycopus Europseus is also abundant in 

 moist soil. 



79. American Pennyroyal — Hedeoma pulegioide.t. Annual. Stem about six inches 

 high, much branched. Leaves oblong-ovate, opposite, on short petioles. Flowers very 

 email, bluish. ' 



A well known fragrant herb, native in barren fields and pastures. 

 Its prevalence in grass lands is a pretty sure indication of a poor 

 soil or neglected agriculture or both. 



